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Tony Stewart Secures Second NHRA Top Fuel Victory At Route 66 Nationals In Chicago
Motorsports icon Tony Stewart achieved another milestone by securing his second Top Fuel victory in the NHRA Mission Drag Racing Series. Driving the Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) Rinnai Dodge/SRT dragster, Stewart triumphed over Justin Ashley in the final round at the Route 66 Nationals. This win propelled him to the top of the Top Fuel points standings, overtaking Shawn Langdon by three points.
Stewart's journey to victory included impressive performances against Terry Totten, Shawn Reed, and Steve Torrence. In the final showdown, he clocked a 3.777-second run at 329.10 mph, outpacing Ashley's 3.818-second effort. His crew, led by Neal Strausbaugh and Mike Domagala, provided a competitive car throughout the event.
The Indiana racer demonstrated consistent excellence with a career-best qualifying time of 3.679 seconds. His success continued with runs of 3.694, 4.539, and 3.762 seconds before facing Ashley in the final round. Stewart's reaction time matched Ashley's, contributing to his victory.
Reflecting on his team's progress, Stewart said, "I was extremely impressed and pleased with the progress our team has been making." He acknowledged the challenging track conditions and expressed excitement about achieving top qualifier status in Q1.
Stewart’s TSR teammate, Matt Hagan, also had a notable weekend in Joliet, Illinois. Driving his TSR Direct Connection Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car, Hagan reached the semifinals but narrowly lost to Austin Prock despite an early lead off the starting line.
Hagan secured victories over Blake Alexander and Ron Capps with times of 3.916 and 3.919 seconds respectively. In one of the closest races of the day, Prock edged out Hagan with a time of 3.931 seconds compared to Hagan’s 3.942 seconds.
Upcoming NHRA Events
The NHRA New England Nationals are set for May 30-June 1 in Epping, N.H., with nitro qualifying rounds scheduled for Friday and Saturday. Final eliminations will take place on Sunday at 11 a.m., with television coverage on FOX Network starting at 6 p.m.
Hagan expressed optimism about his car's performance: "Our Dodge Direct Connection Funny Car has been running really strong." He noted that their racecar performed well under various conditions and emphasized their determination to continue improving.
The Direct Connection portfolio offers high-performance parts for Dodge vehicles through online platforms and dealers. These parts are developed by SRT engineers and come with a Mopar warranty for added assurance.
{INSTAGRAM_1}Dodge continues its legacy as America's performance brand with a lineup that includes electrified muscle cars like the new Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack. The brand remains committed to delivering unmatched performance across all segments it competes in.
Mopar provides genuine parts and accessories globally for Stellantis vehicles, offering comprehensive vehicle care since its inception in 1937 during the muscle-car era.
Tony Stewart’s recent achievements highlight his enduring prowess in motorsports while Matt Hagan’s efforts underscore TSR’s competitive spirit in NHRA racing events this season.
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